A walk in the park with family turned into a trip to the hospital for a Markham woman on Saturday. She was in a local park with her child when she heard loud bangs, followed by a sharp pain to her face. She had been struck by a pellet from an air gun, said Sgt. Gary Phillips of York Regional Police.
The culprit? A group of five youths nearby who had been using the gun to shoot cans in a backyard. All of the youths were under the age of 12, said Sgt. Phillips.
Many air guns, which include airsoft guns, pellet guns and other replica firearms, are legal in Canada. The use of replica firearms and air guns does still leave some police concerned.
"Last summer after an incident, we had an event where we showed a replica firearm, and one of the firearms that our emergency response team uses," said Sgt Phillips, referring to an incident in September when police were called to a Newmarket residence when a man spotted a youth with what appeared to be an assault rifle. "You couldn’t tell the difference."
In another incident in York Region this weekend, police pulled over a vehicle after a call from a motorist who saw what appeared to be a youth loading a handgun. The gun in question turned out to be an airsoft pistol, which was confiscated by police on the insistance of the youth’s parents, said Sgt. Phillips.
National Post
Monday, October 01, 2012
Youth Arrested for Airsoft Gun at Ridgefield High School
On Thursday, September 27 at 2:30 pm, Ridgefield Police saw "what appeared to be a shotgun" emerge from the passenger side of a vehicle travelling within the Ridgefield High School parking lot, police reports state.
Police pulled over the vehicle and found that the gun was "an Airsoft-type weapon without an orange tip," police said. The passenger who had allegedly brandished the [airsoft] gun was a 17 year-old male; he was brought to police headquarters and charged with breach of peace and brandishing a facsimile fire arm, according to police.
The youth was given juvenile summons to appear in court and was released to his parents.
Airsoft guns typically fire plastic BBs and are usually powered by battery or C02. Depending on their design, Airsoft guns can appear clearly toy-like with see-through plastic or may appear convincingly realistic. In accordance with federal law, all toy guns are required to be sold with orange tips, although these tips are sometimes removed after-market.
Police pulled over the vehicle and found that the gun was "an Airsoft-type weapon without an orange tip," police said. The passenger who had allegedly brandished the [airsoft] gun was a 17 year-old male; he was brought to police headquarters and charged with breach of peace and brandishing a facsimile fire arm, according to police.
The youth was given juvenile summons to appear in court and was released to his parents.
Airsoft guns typically fire plastic BBs and are usually powered by battery or C02. Depending on their design, Airsoft guns can appear clearly toy-like with see-through plastic or may appear convincingly realistic. In accordance with federal law, all toy guns are required to be sold with orange tips, although these tips are sometimes removed after-market.
Czech president shot by air-gun-wielding assailant
In an eerie scene captured on video, Czech President Vaclav Klaus is approached by an armed assailant and shot in the arm. However, the attacker, who was dressed in camouflage, was carrying an "airsoft" gun that fires only harmless, plastic [airsoft bb] shells.
Airsoft guns are replicas of actual firearms,
bearing a striking similarity to the real thing. They have become a
popular alternative to paintball for recreational purposes. You can even
buy airsoft guns modeled after firearms used in science-fiction films such as "Aliens."
"You really did not manage this
well," Klaus, 71, reportedly told his bodyguards, in what may be the
understatement of the year, as reported by local television station
Nova.
In the video, the attacker simply
walks up to Klaus and shoots him in the arm without anyone apparently
taking notice. Klaus gives him a confused, stern look before turning
back to the crowd he was greeting. He was reportedly taken to the
hospital after the incident but suffered only minor bruises after the
incident.
Even if his intentions were not
lethal, the attacker apparently had a political message, saying the
Czech government was "blind and deaf to the laments of the people,"
before being taken away by police.
However, the most interesting aspect of the aftermath may be that the attacker, who described himself as a 26-year-old communist sympathizer, was able to give an interview to the station before police apprehended him.
You can watch full video of the incident, including the attacker's interview, below:
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Czech president's security chief resigns over attack
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : The head of security for Czech President Vaclav Klaus has resigned after his subordinates failed to prevent an "assassination" attempt on the president, Czech media report said.
The Ceske Noviny publication said a 26-year-old man, clad in camouflage fatigues, Friday forced his way through a crowd of people greeting Klaus at a bridge-opening ceremony in Chrastava, and shot at the president with a replica airsoft gun.
Klaus was taken to hospital and received treatment for minor bruises. He later criticised his bodyguards for failing to handle the situation appropriately.
Head of security Jiri Sklenka said: "Although I was not present at the place (of the incident) and I personally did not command the measures in Chrastava, after seeing the incident, I feel personal responsibility for the conduct of my subordinates, irrespective of whether they could prevent the incident or could not."
Sklenka said he decided to step down after seeing the footage of the incident broadcast by a television station.
The attacker, identified as Czech citizen Pavel Ondrous, was arrested and charged with hooliganism. He faces up to two years in prison.
Ondrous said he carried out the attack to attract the government's attention to the concerns of ordinary people.
Moscow : The head of security for Czech President Vaclav Klaus has resigned after his subordinates failed to prevent an "assassination" attempt on the president, Czech media report said.
The Ceske Noviny publication said a 26-year-old man, clad in camouflage fatigues, Friday forced his way through a crowd of people greeting Klaus at a bridge-opening ceremony in Chrastava, and shot at the president with a replica airsoft gun.
Klaus was taken to hospital and received treatment for minor bruises. He later criticised his bodyguards for failing to handle the situation appropriately.
Head of security Jiri Sklenka said: "Although I was not present at the place (of the incident) and I personally did not command the measures in Chrastava, after seeing the incident, I feel personal responsibility for the conduct of my subordinates, irrespective of whether they could prevent the incident or could not."
Sklenka said he decided to step down after seeing the footage of the incident broadcast by a television station.
The attacker, identified as Czech citizen Pavel Ondrous, was arrested and charged with hooliganism. He faces up to two years in prison.
Ondrous said he carried out the attack to attract the government's attention to the concerns of ordinary people.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Four arrested after fake gunfight
Four people were taken into custody following a fake gunfight in Newton Thursday afternoon.
Police received a call from the area of S.E. Second Street Thursday, claiming two men were chasing each other with guns and threatening to kill each other.
"One was a long gun and the other was a hand gun," said Lt. Craig Dunlevy of the Newton Police Department. "Neighbors heard the them threatening to shoot each other. ... It alarmed the neighbors. According to the men, it was just in fun, but they were grown men playing a child's game and it alarmed the neighborhood."
They called attention to themselves in a neighborhood that Dunlevy said was fairly quiet.
Police found the men, and the weapons in question. One was a BB gun, the other an Airsoft gun. Neither was loaded.
Four people were arrested, charged with disorderly conduct. One was arrested on an outstanding warrant, and another was arrested for violation of bond restrictions.
"We put a lot of resources into these two guys running around with fake guns," Dunlevy said. "We didn't know they were fake at the time, and neither did the neighbors."
Police received a call from the area of S.E. Second Street Thursday, claiming two men were chasing each other with guns and threatening to kill each other.
"One was a long gun and the other was a hand gun," said Lt. Craig Dunlevy of the Newton Police Department. "Neighbors heard the them threatening to shoot each other. ... It alarmed the neighbors. According to the men, it was just in fun, but they were grown men playing a child's game and it alarmed the neighborhood."
They called attention to themselves in a neighborhood that Dunlevy said was fairly quiet.
Police found the men, and the weapons in question. One was a BB gun, the other an Airsoft gun. Neither was loaded.
Four people were arrested, charged with disorderly conduct. One was arrested on an outstanding warrant, and another was arrested for violation of bond restrictions.
"We put a lot of resources into these two guys running around with fake guns," Dunlevy said. "We didn't know they were fake at the time, and neither did the neighbors."
Wednesday, September 05, 2012
Police warn replica guns will be treated as real after Newmarket incident
AURORA - By the time you’ve read this paragraph, it’s already too late to tell if a gun pointed at you is real or fake.
And if you aim a look-a-like rifle or handgun at a cop, you risk not being left alive to tell a judge "but it was only a replica!"
Those were among the grim warnings York Regional Police issued Wednesday, after three teens were recently arrested in Newmarket while playing with increasingly-popular, realistic assault battle game rifles.
The toy gun trio, whose Airsoft weapons fire plastic projectiles, were released without charges after officers determined no one was threatened, Const. Blair McQuillan said.
Officers were called when someone reported seeing a teen armed with what appeared to be a real AR-15 assault rifle after he walked in front of a house from the back yard.
After apologizing, they were released to their parents with a warning, McQuillan said.
"We’ll treat them as real when we see them," he said after officers set police assault rifles and handguns on a table beside matching replicas.
Holding a confiscated rifle, he said "this is an unregulated item, but if it’s used in the commission of an offence, it will be treated as a criminal offence."
Airsoft game guns, including replica machine guns and sniper rifles are sold online, at flea markets and sporting goods stores at prices ranging from $200 to $800.
"As long as they are used in a controlled setting, such as inside a building or an open area away from a community, they’re legal," McQuillan said.
Many owners prefer to take them to paint ball facilities.
Despite being made of plastic, one of the [airsoft BB] projectiles "can raise a welt," McQuiggan said. "And if the person you hit was not part of the game, you could be charged."
Plastic toy [airsoft] guns must have red or orange tips when sold in the U.S. Though not required here, most imports are fitted with what some bravado boys simply paint over, a firearms expert said later.
Pellet and B-B guns come under separate regulations.
The Toronto Airsoft store’s phone was constantly busy Tuesday.
Since most people don’t know real from replica, fake gun-users have committed robberies or swaggered with them in public.
In Toronto, Meneliki Jafari David-Lee, 21, faced four gun-related charges Sunday after an Apple iPad owner reported fleeing an armed man who answered his sales ad on Kijiji.
And if you aim a look-a-like rifle or handgun at a cop, you risk not being left alive to tell a judge "but it was only a replica!"
Those were among the grim warnings York Regional Police issued Wednesday, after three teens were recently arrested in Newmarket while playing with increasingly-popular, realistic assault battle game rifles.
The toy gun trio, whose Airsoft weapons fire plastic projectiles, were released without charges after officers determined no one was threatened, Const. Blair McQuillan said.
Officers were called when someone reported seeing a teen armed with what appeared to be a real AR-15 assault rifle after he walked in front of a house from the back yard.
After apologizing, they were released to their parents with a warning, McQuillan said.
"We’ll treat them as real when we see them," he said after officers set police assault rifles and handguns on a table beside matching replicas.
Holding a confiscated rifle, he said "this is an unregulated item, but if it’s used in the commission of an offence, it will be treated as a criminal offence."
Airsoft game guns, including replica machine guns and sniper rifles are sold online, at flea markets and sporting goods stores at prices ranging from $200 to $800.
"As long as they are used in a controlled setting, such as inside a building or an open area away from a community, they’re legal," McQuillan said.
Many owners prefer to take them to paint ball facilities.
Despite being made of plastic, one of the [airsoft BB] projectiles "can raise a welt," McQuiggan said. "And if the person you hit was not part of the game, you could be charged."
Plastic toy [airsoft] guns must have red or orange tips when sold in the U.S. Though not required here, most imports are fitted with what some bravado boys simply paint over, a firearms expert said later.
Pellet and B-B guns come under separate regulations.
The Toronto Airsoft store’s phone was constantly busy Tuesday.
Since most people don’t know real from replica, fake gun-users have committed robberies or swaggered with them in public.
In Toronto, Meneliki Jafari David-Lee, 21, faced four gun-related charges Sunday after an Apple iPad owner reported fleeing an armed man who answered his sales ad on Kijiji.
Tuesday, September 04, 2012
Police Response Time
11 News is investigating why it took police four hours to respond to a mother's calls about children getting shot by an Airsoft BB gun.
It happened in a neighborhood that is surrounded with crime in the area near Astrozon and Jet Wing Drive.
Police say they say they couldn't respond to the reports of children being shot in that neighborhood because they had to send most of the officers working in the area to a Standoff with a wanted man. But neighbors say that’s not a good enough reason.
Neighbors along Cather Circle say someone is shooting an Airsoft BB gun at several kids and even adults.
"They were deliberately shooting. I'm pretty sure they were aiming for one of us," Justin Sims said.
Justin Sims lives next door to Lisa Thompson. She called 11 News Monday night after her child was shot.
"Its very unnerving that someone would try to hurt a child," Thompson explained.
She called police at 6 o'clock and an officer didn't show up until 10pm Monday night. Her neighbors are also frustrated.
"Four hours is definitely a little bit much when you're talking something that serious, little kids getting shot with [airsoft] pellet guns that's no good," Sims said.
But the police department says that kind of response time is not out of the ordinary. On any given night police tell 11 News they receive several calls and they don't have enough officers.
Police tell 11 News on a scale from one to four, with one being a life threatening emergency this call was a three.
The officer who did eventually come out to the neighborhood took down a report and asked neighbors to call him if it happens again.
It happened in a neighborhood that is surrounded with crime in the area near Astrozon and Jet Wing Drive.
Police say they say they couldn't respond to the reports of children being shot in that neighborhood because they had to send most of the officers working in the area to a Standoff with a wanted man. But neighbors say that’s not a good enough reason.
Neighbors along Cather Circle say someone is shooting an Airsoft BB gun at several kids and even adults.
"They were deliberately shooting. I'm pretty sure they were aiming for one of us," Justin Sims said.
Justin Sims lives next door to Lisa Thompson. She called 11 News Monday night after her child was shot.
"Its very unnerving that someone would try to hurt a child," Thompson explained.
She called police at 6 o'clock and an officer didn't show up until 10pm Monday night. Her neighbors are also frustrated.
"Four hours is definitely a little bit much when you're talking something that serious, little kids getting shot with [airsoft] pellet guns that's no good," Sims said.
But the police department says that kind of response time is not out of the ordinary. On any given night police tell 11 News they receive several calls and they don't have enough officers.
Police tell 11 News on a scale from one to four, with one being a life threatening emergency this call was a three.
The officer who did eventually come out to the neighborhood took down a report and asked neighbors to call him if it happens again.
Monday, September 03, 2012
Suicidal man threatens officers with airsoft gun
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Colorado Springs Police officers were able to take a suicidal man into custody before he was able to hurt anyone early Monday morning.
Officers said the man was threatening to either kill himself or make officers kill him in the 700 block of East Boulder Street around 2:34 a.m. The man told officers on the phone he had an assault rifle.
Officers talked him outside, but he would not put down the gun, so they fired a less lethal shotgun into the air. The man then immediately put down his gun, which turned out to be a replica airsoft gun without the orange tip.
Officers took the man to a hospital for a psychological evaluation and have not released his name.
(Seems like people in Colorado are appearing in the news more often in regards to issues with airsoft.)
Officers said the man was threatening to either kill himself or make officers kill him in the 700 block of East Boulder Street around 2:34 a.m. The man told officers on the phone he had an assault rifle.
Officers talked him outside, but he would not put down the gun, so they fired a less lethal shotgun into the air. The man then immediately put down his gun, which turned out to be a replica airsoft gun without the orange tip.
Officers took the man to a hospital for a psychological evaluation and have not released his name.
(Seems like people in Colorado are appearing in the news more often in regards to issues with airsoft.)
Mother Upset Police Did Not Respond Quickly
A mother is angry that police didn't come right away after she reported a crime.
Neighbors in the Cather Circle area of Colorado Springs say someone is shooting at several kids who play outside. They think the shooter is using some sort of BB or [airsoft] Pellet Gun.
"He was coming towards the house and got shot from behind," Lisa Thompson explained.
Lisa Thompson is in disbelief, she says both of her kids have been hit and she has no idea who is pulling the trigger.
"All I thought of is it could've been his eye," Thompson said.
Her son Arthur describes what happened and shows 11 News the type of Airsoft BB that hit him.
"I was just walking across the street and all I felt was a pain and a hit on the back of my leg," Arthur said.
Thompson says she called police several times Monday but their reaction time isn't fast enough.
"They said we don't have anyone available so we're not sending anyone," Thompson said.
11 News spoke to Police about this situation; they explained that they have to respond to calls based on the level of emergency. Police have noted this problem and hope to send a patrol car out to the area.
If you know who is shooting at these kids, you’re asked to call Crime Stoppers 634-STOP.
Neighbors in the Cather Circle area of Colorado Springs say someone is shooting at several kids who play outside. They think the shooter is using some sort of BB or [airsoft] Pellet Gun.
"He was coming towards the house and got shot from behind," Lisa Thompson explained.
Lisa Thompson is in disbelief, she says both of her kids have been hit and she has no idea who is pulling the trigger.
"All I thought of is it could've been his eye," Thompson said.
Her son Arthur describes what happened and shows 11 News the type of Airsoft BB that hit him.
"I was just walking across the street and all I felt was a pain and a hit on the back of my leg," Arthur said.
Thompson says she called police several times Monday but their reaction time isn't fast enough.
"They said we don't have anyone available so we're not sending anyone," Thompson said.
11 News spoke to Police about this situation; they explained that they have to respond to calls based on the level of emergency. Police have noted this problem and hope to send a patrol car out to the area.
If you know who is shooting at these kids, you’re asked to call Crime Stoppers 634-STOP.
Sunday, September 02, 2012
Suspect Shot by Police, Airsoft Gun and Ecstasy Found in Car
VALLEJO—
A 22-year-old man is dead after an officer-involved shooting in Vallejo early Sunday morning.
The man was in a car near Pepper Drive and Lofas Place with another person when a police patrol spotted them. Police say that the area was the site of a recent gang related shooting, along with four other shootings.
Because of this recent activity, the officers approached and shined their spotlights into car. It being around 4:30 in the morning, police wanted to know why the man was in the area.
Right after shining their lights, the man got out of the car – with the butt of what looked to be a handgun showing near his waistband, police say.
The man then reached for the handgun and ducked behind the door of the car, only to stand back up again with the gun in hand.
With the man turning towards them, officers believed that he was going to shoot at them, so they opened fired. The two officers fired two volleys: the first ended and they didn’t know if the man was hit, the second started because the suspect apparently tried to enter the car and reach for the center console.
The officers stopped firing once they saw that the man was slumped back into the driver’s seat. He was taken to the Vallejo Kaiser where he was pronounced dead a short time later. The other person in the car was hit during the shooting, either by a bullet or shrapnel, and was taken to the hospital.
Later, a search of the car found an Airsoft replica handgun, 50 pills of ecstasy and packing materials. Due to the packing materials, police believe that the men intended to sell the drugs.
Both officers weren’t injured during the shooting and were placed on administrative leave, per department policy after shootings.
(Guns, whether it be airsoft or real, do not mix!)
A 22-year-old man is dead after an officer-involved shooting in Vallejo early Sunday morning.
The man was in a car near Pepper Drive and Lofas Place with another person when a police patrol spotted them. Police say that the area was the site of a recent gang related shooting, along with four other shootings.
Because of this recent activity, the officers approached and shined their spotlights into car. It being around 4:30 in the morning, police wanted to know why the man was in the area.
Right after shining their lights, the man got out of the car – with the butt of what looked to be a handgun showing near his waistband, police say.
The man then reached for the handgun and ducked behind the door of the car, only to stand back up again with the gun in hand.
With the man turning towards them, officers believed that he was going to shoot at them, so they opened fired. The two officers fired two volleys: the first ended and they didn’t know if the man was hit, the second started because the suspect apparently tried to enter the car and reach for the center console.
The officers stopped firing once they saw that the man was slumped back into the driver’s seat. He was taken to the Vallejo Kaiser where he was pronounced dead a short time later. The other person in the car was hit during the shooting, either by a bullet or shrapnel, and was taken to the hospital.
Later, a search of the car found an Airsoft replica handgun, 50 pills of ecstasy and packing materials. Due to the packing materials, police believe that the men intended to sell the drugs.
Both officers weren’t injured during the shooting and were placed on administrative leave, per department policy after shootings.
(Guns, whether it be airsoft or real, do not mix!)
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